Modelling advanced cell, module, and system technologies

Malcolm Abbott, Solomon Freer, Bastian J.J. Ardissone, Steven Ramirez,

Benjamin A. Sudbury, Keith McIntosh

PV Lighthouse, Australia

E-mail: mal.abbott@pvlighthouse.com.au

Abstract

Accurate physics-based modelling is essential to the development of advanced photovoltaic (PV) technologies across cell, module, and system levels. SunSolve, developed by PV Lighthouse, provides a unified simulation framework capable of resolving optical, electrical, and thermal interactions with sub-cell spatial precision. The platform enables virtual experimentation, allowing performance to be evaluated and optimised at far lower cost and time than laboratory prototyping. It also enhances experimental characterisation by revealing the underlying physical mechanisms behind measured results, helping engineers interpret data and refine process design with greater confidence.

This presentation will outline recent advances in the application of multi-scale modelling to emerging PV technologies. At the cell level, examples include optimisation of wafer thickness and anti-reflection coatings, evaluation of novel contact schemes, and analysis of back-contact and tandem architectures. At the module level, advanced diode and interconnect models are used to investigate half-, third-, and quarter-cut configurations, optical coatings, and degradation pathways such as UV absorption. At the system level, case studies examine the effects of  mounting geometry, spectral variability, and module technology choice on annual energy yield.

Selected results from the literature and recent PV Lighthouse studies will be presented, demonstrating how rigorous simulation supports process development, product validation, and yield prediction for next-generation PV technologies. Together these examples highlight the growing role of high-fidelity digital models in bridging laboratory research and field-scale performance.

Biography:
Dr Malcolm Abbott is the founder and Chief Technology Officer of PV Lighthouse, a company specialising in advanced photovoltaic simulation software used by manufacturers and researchers worldwide. With over twenty years of experience in the solar industry, he has worked across crystalline-silicon cell development, reliability analysis, and system-level performance modelling. Dr Abbott has published more than 150 scientific papers and continues to focus on bridging high-accuracy digital modelling with practical manufacturing and yield optimisation.